Bears defense continues to get on the 'Board'

Even after coaching change, players upholding ballhawking tradition

September 28, 2013|By Rich Campbell, Chicago Tribune reporter

Beyond the front desk at Halas Hall, past the case that displays the Bears' only Lombardi Trophy, is a long hallway. Identical white doors interrupt the gray brick walls that stretch the length of the space. All that distinguishes each one is a rectangular plaque that lists which position group meets inside.

The defense's meeting room contains a particularly important space. The Bears' "Big-Play Board" hangs from the wall. During the regular season, the dry-erase board lists players' names and points assigned to them by coaches for forced fumbles, recovered fumbles, interceptions and touchdowns. The defense's connection with the board is so strong that coaches don't let outsiders see it.

"Last game it just lit up," defensive backs coach Jon Hoke said, referring to how the Bears forced five turnovers in beating the Steelers. "We added (seven) new members to 'The Club,' as we call it. It's not exclusive. Everybody is more than welcome to get in there."

The board symbolizes how the Bears defense emphasizes forcing turnovers and holds players accountable for doing so. It's the center of a ballhawking, playmaking culture that former coach Lovie Smith established when he was hired in 2004.

For Smith's nine seasons, defensive takeaways and touchdowns anchored the Bears' winning formula. They did it better than any other defense in the NFL.

That has continued three games into coach Marc Trestman and defensive coordinator Mel Tucker's tenure. The Bears' league-high 11 takeaways entering Sunday's game against the Lions suggest they can sustain forcing turnovers and match that with whatever offensive improvements Trestman helps achieve.

"You emphasize it, you preach it," linebacker James Anderson said. "I've been in Carolina — you did the same thing. But just here it actually happens. Guys are optimistic. Guys are hungry. Guys go make plays, and they make turnovers happen."

A takeaway culture

When Anderson signed a free-agent contract with the Bears in March, he understood the world he was entering.

"You just watch ESPN," he said. "It seemed like when I was on a different team, every other week they were showing some guy who plays for the Bears defense making a touchdown."

By then, the Bears' turnover-forcing culture had long been self-perpetuating. It wasn't always that way, though.

Establishing that was Smith's top priority when he joined the Bears after serving as the Rams' defensive coordinator from 2001-2003. In his final season, the Rams forced 46 turnovers, still the second-most in the NFL since 2000.

"From the time that Lovie had been here or he started preaching turnovers, it started to become big news," veteran linebacker Lance Briggs said.

The Bears defense ranked among the NFL's top 10 in takeaways in each season after Smith's first. Last season and during the 2006 run to the NFC championship, they led the league with 44.

The defense's Big-Play Board dates to Smith's tenure. So do certain practice routines. Players treat incomplete passes as fumbles as part of Smith's "scoop and score" mantra, something Tucker continues to recite.

"Mel has done a tremendous job of keeping it alive," said Hoke, who joined the Bears in 2009. "He shows it. He preaches it. It's almost like listening to Coach Smith or (former defensive coordinator Rod) Marinelli. He's doing a good job of selling the same message."

The Bears' gaudy turnover totals are a main reason Tucker prioritized continuity after he inherited the defense. That side of the ball wasn't broken, so he opted to steward the established Cover-2 scheme instead of changing it.

He immediately assimilated into the group's approach.

"All day, every day," Tucker said. "If a guy drops an interception, in the stats it's a (pass breakup), but in our world that's a missed opportunity and negative production. It's a mindset of that's just what the job description is. We have to take the ball away. It's a culture. It's just a way of life. They know that it helps you win games."

It's a talent

Rookie linebacker Jon Bostic didn't have to practice with the Bears to comprehend that he was surrounded by talent. He knew.

Former University of Florida defensive coordinator Dan Quinn emphasized takeaways while Bostic was there. More than once, Quinn showed players video of Bears cornerback Charles Tillman punching the ball out of an opponent's possession.

"He just really tried to express to the (defensive backs), you know, taking the ball away; to the linebackers, taking the ball off the man," Bostic said. "Whether it's stripping out or knocking it out, it's everybody coming together trying to get the ball back for the offense."

Every defensive coach emphasizes that, but the Bears actually have the talent to make it reality.

"The strips, the club, the punching out, the way they've done it technique-wise, it's terribly unique," Trestman said.